Mexico's first great resort destination, Acapulco is a stunningly beautiful city located around a bay on the Pacific Ocean, with miles of easily-accessible beaches. It's truly in the tropics, with palm trees and other exotic plants everywhere. Views across the bay are gorgeous, the sunsets are legendary, and the city lights at night are lovely from every vantage point.

What to do? Swimming (but note that some beaches have rough surf and undertows), working on your tan, eating and drinking at the wide variety of restaurants and clubs... and staying up late (or all night) to go dancing at the discos. Scuba diving, fishing, boating, and other water sports are available, as are golf courses and tennis courts. The shopping is great fun, though don't expect the best bargains in Mexico in this tourist-oriented city. Famous divers jump off extremely high cliffs into the sea at La Quebrada... that's something to watch, not to do! Most of all, Acapulco is a place to relax.

I've been to Acapulco both as a child and as an adult. Of course, the city has changed a lot; the quaint little motel just a block from the beach where we stayed when I was a kid is long gone, replaced with newer, taller buildings.

I adored the city as a child, and I continue to like its natural beauty and its beaches. Though it is now a huge city and very tourist-oriented, I still think Acapulco is an outstanding place for a beach vacation. The glittering celebrities are more likely to go to the newer resorts -- Cancun and others that were small towns or fishing ports when Acapulco was the rising star.

If you explore the central market and other places away from the obvious main tourist areas, you can get a real connection with the people. Many of the tourists nowadays are Mexican, and you can chat with them on the beach. Don't speak Spanish? No problem! Smiles go a long way, and many Mexicans know some English.

The weather in Acapulco is very nice all winter, hot and humid in the summer. Good thing the beach is there!

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Rosana Hart has traveled to Mexico many times. Her website, www.mexico-with-heart.com, contains the full text of a book she wrote about traveling in Mexico, as well as information and travel tips